Irv Smith Jr.'s football path might be seen by some as predetermined.
His father, Irv. Sr., was a first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1993. Smith Sr., a burly tight end who played in the NFL for eight seasons, is still remembered by Notre Dame fans for his 1991 touchdown reception against Indiana, a play in which he carried three Indiana defenders into the end zone.
Smith Jr., however, wanted to break the mold. He wanted to be a receiver.
His football career began on such a path, starting in the ninth grade. But by the time his junior season arrived, Smith accepted the inevitable: His inherited size and skills would lead him closer to the offensive tackles.
"Once I bought into the tight end position, I'm a physical player, I like to block and get down and dirty," Smith explained when asked how difficult it was to make the change. "I like to have fun and tight end is a great position that you can do that. With my talent and just being versatile, it helps out a lot."
It has worked in his favor. The younger Smith ended up earning a scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he blossomed in 2018, catching 44 passes for 710 yards and seven touchdowns -- a single-season record for Crimson Tide tight ends. Smith landed Second Team All-SEC honors for his efforts and could become the latest Alabama tight end to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah ranked Smith as the No. 18 prospect in the entire 2019 draft class, touting Smith's "excellent blend of size, athleticism, ball skills and toughness."
That same blend might lead to Smith joining his father as first-round selections, and becoming the newest first-round father-son combo in the NFL (the last was Jets safety Jamal Adams, whose father, George, was a first-round pick of the Giants in 1985).
Take a look at the top 25 prospects Browns fans should watch during the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Mississippi wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (14) gestures before a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Monroe in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry (1) fends off Utah defensive back Jaylon Johnson in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz. Harry finished third all-time in receptions and receiving yards at Arizona State before declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft. He will participate in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler (18) reaches for the goal line but is knocked out of bounds at the 3-yard line by Memphis defensive back Austin Hall in the second half of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. Butler is participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Ohio State receiver Parris Campbell plays against Tulane during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams sets up to block against Arkansas in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard (60) lines up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Dillard is participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander (1) and West Virginia lineman Yodny Cajuste (55) are pictured during an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Oklahoma won 44-24. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. (82) runs against Georgia defensive back Tyson Campbell (3) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah ranked Smith as the No. 25 prospect in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft class. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta (18) makes a touchdown catch against Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. Nauta is participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen is tackled by Mississippi State defender Montez Sweat during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Michigan running back Karan Higdon (22) takes the hand off from quarterback Wilton Speight (3) as Florida defensive lineman Jachai Polite (99) defends during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson (45) sacks Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro (12) in the first half of the Hawaii Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary (3) is blocked by Purdue offensive lineman Matt McCann (79) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Michigan defeated Purdue. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) works to get around Rice offensive lineman Uzoma Osuji (77) during a NCAA college football game, in Houston. Oliver was named to The Associated Press Midseason All-America team, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.(AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
Clemson's Christian Wilkins reacts after a roughing the passer penalty is called against him during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Ohio State defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones plays against Nebraska during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (90) pressures Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse upset Clemson 27-24. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
LSU Tigers linebacker Devin White (40) during an NCAA football game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 in Baton Rogue, LA. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Michigan linebacker Devin Bush celebrates a stop against Nebraska in the first half of an NCAA football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2017, file photo, LSU cornerback Andraez "Greedy" Williams (29) pulls in an interception in the endzone late in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La. Williams was selected to the AP Preseason All-America team, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Washington's Byron Murphy reacts after a stop against Stanford in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Deandre Baker (18) covers Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) during the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 in Atlanta. (Ric Tapia via AP)
South defensive back Rock Ya-Sin of Temple (6) during practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl college football game, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Alabama defensive back Deionte Thompson (14) celebrates after Mississippi State place kicker Jace Christmann (47) missed a field goal-attempt during the first half of a game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Thompson was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
North safety Nasir Adderley, of Delaware, returns an interception during the second half of the Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Smith Sr.'s own career saw him play seven seasons in the NFL: five with New Orleans, one with San Francisco and a final campaign with the expansion Browns in 1999. Smith Jr. was just a year old when his dad suited up in Cleveland and caught 24 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown -- in a 44-28 loss to the Bengals in Week 14 -- in 13 games before calling it a career.
Smith Sr. was in the starting lineup when the reborn Browns recorded their first win, coincidentally, in New Orleans. Smith Jr. was born in the same city a little more than 14 months earlier.
"He loved Cleveland," Smith said of his father's lone season with the Browns. ... "He said it was a great year he was there and it would be a great spot for me."
Smith has landed anywhere from the mid-teens to the upper 30s in mock drafts, making his pairing somewhat difficult to predict. But if he ends up in Cleveland, he'd be joining a talented tight end room that includes David Njoku, Darren Fells and Seth DeValve.
"A lot of coaches here scouted my dad 20 years ago, which is crazy," Smith said. "They joked with me a lot about that and they told me I was a better player than he was."
Perhaps he'll get a chance to be a better Brown, too.
